We oppose the plans put forward by Sheffield City Council and Connecting Sheffield to create a Red Route on Attercliffe Road and permanently close Oaks Green and Shortridge Street. 

This will mean no waiting, loading or parking, which will be detrimental to businesses that rely on this access. The proposed road closures will also affect access to the two main car parks off Attercliffe Road. 

Following a prolonged difficult period due to the Sheffield floods and the subsequent pandemic, these plans will further jeopardise the livelihoods of the Attercliffe business community. 

A lack of footfall will inevitably lead to job losses and the closure of many independent and local businesses. 

The effects of this are already being felt, with three long-standing family businesses having permanently closed and two engineering firms relocating due to current disruption and the proposed plans. 

The Attercliffe Business Community have drawn parallels to the city’s tree‑felling dispute and the 2023 Lowcock Inquiry, which found that the council had engaged in “deceitful behaviour” and failed to communicate transparently with key stakeholders. This is in relation to the proposed red route and cycle lane project. 

It appears the Council has adopted a “bunker mentality”—defensive, uncommunicative, and dismissive of public concern and wanting to get the ‘job done’ at any cost. This has only deepened the community’s mistrust. 

We call upon Sheffield City Council to 

1. Reconsider the implementation of the Red Route on Attercliffe Road. 
2. Reconsider the permanent closure of Oaks Green and Shortridge Street. 
3. Support the local business community by promising no further parking restrictions in the area, better signage for the car parks and assurances they will not impose charges on the free car parks in the future. 

Let it be clear we do not oppose the regeneration of Attercliffe. We fully support investment and regeneration in the Attercliffe area and have campaigned for improvements for many years. However a red route risks causing irreparable damage, leading to job losses, business closures, and vacant properties. This would be contrary to the objectives of the Connect Sheffield funding, which aims to stimulate investment and improve the vitality of the area.